Cattle exports could increase to Indonesia

Queensland and the Northern Territory's agriculture ministers say they may have brokered a deal with Indonesia which could see an extra 25,000 live cattle exported.

The northern Australian cattle industry is suffering from widespread drought and plummeting prices largely blamed on the reduction in live cattle exports to Indonesia.

Queensland Agriculture Minister John McVeigh and the Northern Territory's Willem Westra van Holthe have travelled to Indonesia to rebuild their relationship with the country and get more live cattle into what was a major market.

Mr McVeigh says the Indonesian government has indicated they could increase their live cattle imports, but have not officially announced any move.

"We've calculated that even that small move would mean an extra 20 to 25,000 cattle out of northern Australia in the short term," he said.